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Collections Catch of the Week: Ice Shoes

KX.87.477.22-A-B-(3)

Submitted by M.Lenz, Collections Assistant

Ice fisherman need to get a grip! Luckily ice shoes, or ice cleats, are just what they need to grip the ice. Worn over the shoe to offer better grip on icy surfaces, ice shoes have been around for at least a couple hundred years. These non-slip shoe covers are commonplace today and are typically made of non-slip rubbers and lightweight metal or plastic picks. This leather and nail construction is a slightly less high-tech affair, but it did the job.

The nails are still quite sharp and we keep these well bundled. These shoes weren’t nearly as cozy as they look now, the padding was added for storage, to help keep the shoe’s shape.